A computer implemented method for generating a report that includes latent information, comprising receiving an input data stream that includes latent information, performing one of normalization, validation, and extraction of the input data stream, processing the input data stream to identify latent information within the data stream that is required for generation of a particular report, wherein said processing of the input data stream to identify latent information comprises of identifying a relevant portion of the input data stream, bounding the relevant portion of the input data stream, classifying and normalizing the bounded data, activating a relevant report template based on said identified latent information, populating said template with template-specified data, and processing the template-specified data to generate a report.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method comprising: identifying, using a processor, a plurality of alternative hypotheses for a medical billing code corresponding to a portion of text documenting a patient encounter; selecting at least two of the alternative hypotheses; and displaying the selected hypotheses to a user documenting the patient encounter; wherein the selecting comprises: scoring each hypothesis of the plurality of alternative hypotheses; and selecting hypotheses of the plurality of alternative hypotheses that exceed a threshold score.
The system identifies multiple possible medical billing codes (hypotheses) for a piece of text from a patient's medical record using a processor. It then selects the top two or more billing code possibilities. The selection process scores each potential billing code option and picks those that exceed a defined score threshold. Finally, it displays these selected billing code options to the user who is documenting the patient encounter.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of alternative hypotheses represents a different medical billing code.
Building on the system that identifies and displays medical billing code possibilities, each of the suggested billing codes represents a different and distinct medical billing code. That is, the system presents a range of different coding options for the same portion of patient record text.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of alternative hypotheses represents a medical billing code selected from the group consisting of an ICD code, a CPT code, and an E&M code.
This invention relates to a system for processing medical billing codes to improve accuracy and efficiency in healthcare billing. The problem addressed is the complexity and variability in medical billing codes, which often leads to errors, delays, and disputes in reimbursement processes. The system generates a plurality of alternative hypotheses for a given medical service or procedure, where each hypothesis corresponds to a potential medical billing code. These codes are selected from standardized coding systems such as ICD (International Classification of Diseases), CPT (Current Procedural Terminology), and E&M (Evaluation and Management) codes. The system evaluates these hypotheses to determine the most accurate and appropriate billing code for the service provided. This evaluation may involve analyzing clinical documentation, comparing against historical data, or applying machine learning models to predict the correct code. By generating and assessing multiple hypotheses, the system reduces the likelihood of billing errors and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements. The invention aims to streamline the billing process, minimize reimbursement delays, and improve financial outcomes for healthcare providers.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: allowing the user to choose a billing code from among the displayed alternative hypotheses; and designating the billing code chosen by the user as accurately representing information corresponding to the portion of the text.
In addition to identifying and displaying medical billing code possibilities, the system allows the user to choose a billing code from the displayed options. The system then designates the code selected by the user as being the correct representation of the information within the text of the patient encounter.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the user is allowed to choose at most one billing code from among the displayed alternative hypotheses.
Expanding on the system that allows the user to select a billing code from a list of suggestions, the system restricts the user to selecting only one code from the displayed list. This ensures a single, definitive billing code assignment for the given portion of the patient's record text.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the displaying comprises displaying the selected hypotheses ranked according to their respective scores.
Augmenting the system that identifies, scores, and displays potential billing codes, the list of suggested billing codes is displayed to the user in order of their calculated scores. The highest scoring code will appear at the top of the list, with other codes ranked in descending order of their relevance based on their scores.
7. Apparatus comprising: a processor; and a processor-readable medium storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform a method comprising: identifying a plurality of alternative hypotheses for a medical billing code corresponding to a portion of text documenting a patient encounter; selecting at least two of the alternative hypotheses; and displaying the selected hypotheses to a user documenting the patient encounter; wherein the selecting comprises: scoring each hypothesis of the plurality of alternative hypotheses; and selecting hypotheses of the plurality of alternative hypotheses that exceed a threshold score.
The system includes a processor and memory with instructions to: identify multiple possible medical billing codes (hypotheses) for a portion of text from a patient's medical record. It then selects the top two or more billing code possibilities by scoring each potential billing code option and picks those that exceed a defined score threshold. Finally, it displays these selected billing code options to the user documenting the patient encounter.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of alternative hypotheses represents a different medical billing code.
In the described apparatus with a processor and memory, each of the suggested billing codes represents a different and distinct medical billing code. That is, the system presents a range of different coding options for the same portion of patient record text.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of alternative hypotheses represents a medical billing code selected from the group consisting of an ICD code, a CPT code, and an E&M code.
Within the described apparatus including a processor and memory, each code suggestion belongs to one of several standardized medical code types. Specifically, the billing code options are chosen from the group including ICD (International Classification of Diseases) codes, CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) codes, and E&M (Evaluation and Management) codes.
10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises: allowing the user to choose a billing code from among the displayed alternative hypotheses; and designating the billing as accurately representing information corresponding to the portion of the text.
Beyond the apparatus that identifies and displays medical billing code possibilities, the system allows the user to choose a billing code from the displayed options. The system then designates the code selected by the user as being the correct representation of the information within the text of the patient encounter.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the user is allowed to choose at most one billing code from among the displayed alternative hypotheses.
Expanding on the apparatus that allows the user to select a billing code from a list of suggestions, the system restricts the user to selecting only one code from the displayed list. This ensures a single, definitive billing code assignment for the given portion of the patient's record text.
12. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the displaying comprises displaying the selected hypotheses ranked according to their respective scores.
Augmenting the apparatus that identifies, scores, and displays potential billing codes, the list of suggested billing codes is displayed to the user in order of their calculated scores. The highest scoring code will appear at the top of the list, with other codes ranked in descending order of their relevance based on their scores.
13. A processor-readable medium encoded with processor-readable code that, when executed, performs a method comprising: identifying a plurality of alternative hypotheses for a medical billing code corresponding to a portion of text documenting a patient encounter; selecting at least two of the alternative hypotheses; and displaying the selected hypotheses to a user documenting the patient encounter; wherein the selecting comprises: scoring each hypotheses of the plurality of alternative hypotheses; and selecting hypotheses of the plurality of alternative hypotheses that exceed a threshold score.
A computer-readable storage medium holds instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to: identify multiple possible medical billing codes (hypotheses) for a portion of text from a patient's medical record. It then selects the top two or more billing code possibilities by scoring each potential billing code option and picks those that exceed a defined score threshold. Finally, it displays these selected billing code options to the user documenting the patient encounter.
14. The processor-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of alternative hypotheses represents a different medical billing code.
Using the processor-readable medium with stored instructions, each of the suggested billing codes represents a different and distinct medical billing code. That is, the system presents a range of different coding options for the same portion of patient record text.
15. The processor-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of alternative hypotheses represents a medical billing code selected from the group consisting of an ICD code, a CPT code, and an E&M code.
With the processor-readable medium, each code suggestion belongs to one of several standardized medical code types. Specifically, the billing code options are chosen from the group including ICD (International Classification of Diseases) codes, CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) codes, and E&M (Evaluation and Management) codes.
16. The processor-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises: allowing the user to choose a billing code from among the displayed alternative hypotheses; and designating the billing code chosen by the user as accurately representing information corresponding to the portion of the text.
In addition to identifying and displaying medical billing code possibilities with the processor-readable medium, the system allows the user to choose a billing code from the displayed options. The system then designates the code selected by the user as being the correct representation of the information within the text of the patient encounter.
17. The processor-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the user is allowed to choose at most one billing code from among the displayed alternative hypotheses.
Expanding on the computer-readable medium that allows the user to select a billing code from a list of suggestions, the system restricts the user to selecting only one code from the displayed list. This ensures a single, definitive billing code assignment for the given portion of the patient's record text.
18. The processor-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the displaying comprises displaying the selected hypotheses ranked according to their respective scores.
Augmenting the processor-readable medium, the list of suggested billing codes is displayed to the user in order of their calculated scores. The highest scoring code will appear at the top of the list, with other codes ranked in descending order of their relevance based on their scores.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
May 18, 2012
August 13, 2013
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